“You are my focus,” he said with a little squeeze for emphasis.
She leaned back to look him in the eyes. “I’m hardly Baby Idris. I don’t need constant care, and look at how Mr. Dafydd is with Dr. Ric. They love each other and find time to be together.”
But her father was shaking his head. “It’s different. They’re building a life together, and Ric knows about us and what Dafydd went through. There are no secrets between them. It’s still going to be long and difficult road for them, with no guarantees for success.”
She realized she had to be firmer with him. “And yet with all that to face, they are still trying. You are looking for excuses, reasons to deny yourself. You’ve always done that.” She grimaced. “I don’t like it. It doesn’t help me if you are unhappy.”
“I’m not!”
“All right,” she conceded. “It doesn’t help me if you are less happy than you could be.” She pressed forward. “I see the way you look at him, and I also see how he looks at you. You want each other.”
Her father ran his hand gently down the back of her head. “It’s not like in the movies you watch, sweetheart. Damien and I aren’t in love.”
“Oh, but it’s exactly like in the movies!” she exclaimed. Really, males could be ridiculous sometimes. “Remember in Frozen how Anna falls in love with the evil prince that she just met at the ball and everyone is telling her that it’s crazy? You need to get to know someone before you decide if it’s love and if you want to get married. You and Mr. Damien need to spend time together. That’s all.”
Now her father had a pained expression on his face. “My darling girl, it’s not the same…at all. Damien and I are, um, attracted to one another, yes. We both have certain physical needs that might be satisfied by engaging in…” He closed his eyes briefly. “How did our conversation end up here?”
“Oh, Father Willem, you are talking about sex.”
He winced. “God…”
“Why are you distressed? You’re the one who said I should come to you for explanations when I was ready.”
“Yeah, as an academic exercise. I am not going to discuss that with you in the context of my life.”
“Why ever not?”
“Because it’s embarrassing?”
“Huh.” Annika folded her arms, irritated at the way the discussion was going. “Does that mean that when I have questions about my eventual desire for males that I can’t talk to you?”
“No! I doesn’t mean that at all. I want you to always feel free to come to me with any questions or problems. Although, in this case, you might be better talking to a woman…like Kitty. She would understand better than I and she knows our secret—which is a really important point. Damien knows nothing of our true nature. I shouldn’t become personally involved with him because it risks exposing us.”
“The others have taken the humans into their confidences, like Ms. Kitty—and like you did with Papa.”
“It’s hard to do. You never know if they will be accepting or out you to the world.”
“And yet you did it once and it was worth the risk, wasn’t it?”
Her father’s eyes clouded with emotion. “Yes. Yes, it was.”
Clasping his face with her hands, she said. “Isn’t it time to take that risk again? We wouldn’t be here talking about your fears for Alex’s plan if you didn’t care for this boy.”
“You’re right, of course.” He took her hands in his and kissed both palms. “Going behind Alex’s back feels wrong, but I couldn’t resist the urge. That says something right there about how much in denial I am about Damien.”
“This isn’t a betrayal. I’m Queen. Talking to me is always the right thing to do. In this case, however, I defer to Alex. He knows far better than I what the proper course of action is in matters of conflict and aggression. I will learn, eventually. Not yet, though. I want to side with you because you are my father, but Alex has done a remarkable job of containing Dracul and his followers. He knows what he is doing.”
She got off his lap and stood before him. “You should go to him, tonight. Mr. Damien, I mean, not Alex.” She inwardly shook her head at the image of Alex’s hearing about Will’s concerns and his hopes that she would intervene. As honorable a drone as he was, he was going to have trouble accepting her supremacy. It was inevitable that they would clash, although she had no doubt that she would prevail. A thousand years on Earth wasn’t going to have altered far more millennia of evolution.
This wasn’t the time to focus on that problem, however. “Once I’m tucked into my pretty bed with Babette curled up beside me and I don’t need you anymore, go tell Mr. Damien how you feel, including your worries for him. I bet he will be extra careful to please you, because I am certain you matter to him.”
Father Willem took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You are a wise Queen.” He stood and held out his hand. “Shall we go down to dinner?”
She took it. “Yes, indeed. Come, Babette.”
There was more that she wanted to say but she decided to hold her tongue instead. She didn’t think her father was ready to hear the whole of the truth. He didn’t merely want the human. He was falling in love with him—and that was fine with her.
Chapter Five
Will couldn’t quite believe he was doing this. His daughter had actually talked him into pursuing Damien. He shouldn’t have been surprised, really, about her matchmaking. Queens were very instrumental in the various pairings within the hive. It was usually older ones eyeing who would do well with whom. Adolescent queens, not so much. But Annika was an anomaly in many ways. Her observations about his attraction to Damien were predictable, given how rapidly she was taking on her mantle of power. He just couldn’t shake the weird feeling that his daughter was in any way involved in his sex life.
Jesus, she practically ordered me to go get laid.
It was his own fault. What had he been thinking, bringing the problem to her anyway? Abject fear for the boy had been the driving force. And while he didn’t think seducing him would help with that at all, it might be useful in making sure Damien welcomed Will’s protection while he did his infiltration. No way was Will going to allow anyone else to be the boy’s guardian angel during the whole thing. Damien would probably be more receptive to his lover keeping tabs on him that someone else.
Or, this could all be a rationalization for acting on the desire to fuck Damien that had been plaguing him since he’d moved to Boston.
It’s wasn’t very late, barely eleven. Annika was tucked under the covers of her canopy bed with the furball by her side, as she herself had described. She was absolutely angelic in her sleep, with her pale blonde hair fanned out on her pink silk pillow and her white eyelet coverlet pulled up to her chin, with only the lacy collar of her nightgown showing. Her beauty took his breath away, and he loved her with an intensity that, as he’d said, almost hurt.
He hated the fact that Luuk had had so little time with her—that his enhanced life could be struck down by a human ailment that Will’s blood was supposed to have immunized him from. He should have been here to see their daughter grow into a woman, to become the Queen. He missed the man so much, his bed cold and empty, no matter where he lay his head. Sometimes he still reached for his lover in the middle of the night, only to come up with a fistful of bedding. More than the sex, it was the intimacy he truly missed. Perhaps he could find a measure of that with Damien.
He found the boy in the kitchen—not the family one but the big commercial area that served the club. He was alone, which was a relief. Will was out of practice asking a man for company and didn’t want an audience. God, what if he turns me down? That would suck, especially given the hours he’d spent working himself into a lather over the asking part. But there was no need to get ahead of himself. There was a mutual attraction, so it was likely Damien would welcome the advance. Will didn’t need anyone else to point that out to him.
The club music was piped into the kitchen. The Doors’ Break on
Through was playing. Damien was cleaning up and moving to the beat. It was such a delightful surprise that Will stood and watched. The boy had moves, as good as the go-go boys for sure. His slender hips, draped in the white chef’s jacket, were swinging back and forth as he moved around the kitchen. The synthetic keyboard chords echoed throughout the space, and Damien added little steps back and forth in time to the rhythm. God, he’s adorable. And Will had loved the sixties, especially living in Amsterdam. Those had been the happiest, most carefree days of his life.
He’d met Luuk back then and had fallen instantly in love.
Except Luuk was dead, and Annika was right about his not wanting Will to stay alone forever. He’d have felt the same if the situation had been reversed. In fact, they had discussed it, knowing that Will might have to leave at any time to join Alex in a fight. Will had made Luuk promise to find some else, to continue to live his life. And that had been before Annika’s unexpected birth. He knew that being with Damien wasn’t any kind of betrayal. It was still hard to make his feet move.
He did it, though, approaching the unaware boy as the song reached its crescendo. Damien executed a whirl at the last note and ended up facing Will. He came to an abrupt stop and stood wide-eyed, staring at him.
Then he grinned sheepishly. “I didn’t realize anyone was here.”
Will tried for a casual smile back. “I didn’t want to interrupt you. You were obviously enjoying yourself.”
Damien shrugged. “Well, you know, I love the classics—The Doors, Jimmy, Janis, Cream, Guess Who. I can’t stand still when they’re playing. Tonight’s retro night, so… I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love a lot of heavy metal and grunge, the alternative rock stuff. It’s all good. But, man, give me that synth keyboard and I’m in heaven.” The boy stopped and shook his head. “I’m babbling because you’re being here with me alone is freaking me out.”
Alarmed at the statement, Will took a step back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t intend to bother you.”
Damien rolled his eyes. “No, dude, it’s because I want you to be here so much. I, like, fantasize about your being with me just like this—no one around, the two of us staring into each other’s eyes. Then you come up to me and wham, I’m in your arms and you’re kissing the shit out of me.” Damien stopped and barked out a laugh. “And now I’m freaking you out because you’re here for like a sandwich or something.”
Will didn’t let the conversation go any further. He did exactly what Damien had said, went to him and took him in his arms. He wasn’t gentle because he didn’t think Damien wanted that. Instead, he locked him into a bear-hug and attacked the boy’s lips. It was full-on tongue down the throat time. There was no way he had the patience to finesse it. He’d generally known that the human had a pierced tongue, but it still surprised him to find it massaging the tip of his own, the steel ball providing a unique stimulation. He liked it, though, and kept coming back to it, tickling it and enjoying the sensation.
Damien hesitated only a second before responding in kind, with his arms wrapped tightly around Will’s torso and his leg entwined with one of Will’s. The position allowed Damien to rise up to align his shorter body with Will’s taller one better, grinding their hips together. Their hard cocks pressed and rubbed, even with their clothing still on. Fucking hell. Will thought he would come from that little contact alone.
He had to slow things down before he did, before he bent Damien over one of Emil’s prepping stations and fucked him right there. God, it was a tempting thought, but there were any number of people who could walk in and Will had to show some common sense. It was hard, though. After so many years of celibacy, his sex drive was like a bursting dam. There was little to hold it back.
Breaking the kiss, he huffed, “We have to find a private place.”
“Storeroom,” Damien panted out.
Before Will could respond to that suggestion, Damien was already taking the lead, uncoupling them in order to grab Will’s hand. He tugged him across the kitchen and into one of the rooms where Emil stored his dry supplies. Damien opened the door then kicked it shut again. They were plunged into darkness, which was rather arousing, actually. Then there was little time to ponder that before Damien was in his arms again.
This kiss was no less intense than the last one, except now Damien was working Will’s T-shirt, shoving it up to expose his chest. Damien found Will’s nipples and made him moan as the human rubbed and plucked at them. Will wanted to do the same, but settled for working his hands under the chef’s jacket in order to slide them past the waist of Damien’s jeans. They were loose enough that he could reach the boy’s perfect high, tight ass. He cupped it and used it to press him even closer.
“Hm-m,” Damien moaned. He broke the kiss and whispered, “Fuck me. Right here against the door. I want your dick inside me. Now!”
Will latched onto Damien’s lip and tugged before saying, “The condom’s in my front pocket.” Humans needed such things to feel safe, even though there was nothing Will could transmit to him. The club had plenty on hand and he’d grabbed a few on his way to the kitchen, along with a small tube of lubricant.
He’d barely said the words before Damien had pushed him away and was undoing his jeans, lowering the zipper and freeing his hard dick. At the same time, Will was pulling out a condom and the lube, covering and slicking himself. It was fast, efficient and being done in the kind of dark that humans couldn’t see in.
Then Damien was back to kissing him before saying, “You’re ready for take-off, Captain. Just don’t trip on your partially lowered pants,” he added with a chuckle.
Will almost said something about Alex being the captain before mentally kicking himself. This beautiful, sexy boy was offering his ass on a platter. Well, against the door, but the point was, all Will had to do was point and pierce. Because yes, Damien had turned and put himself in the perfect position, jutting his ass out in invitation. His naked ass, because in the last half-second, he’d dropped his own jeans. The paleness of his flesh was visible to Will’s alien eyes. And by taking the boy from behind, Will’s natural inclination to sink his fangs into the jugular was somewhat hampered.
What the fuck am I doing thinking? Analyzing? He slipped one finger down the crease of Damien’s ass to locate and press against his hole. With a groan, Damien pushed back to take the finger in more deeply. The puckered ring was soft and pliable. The tight channel was also loose and welcoming.
“What are you waiting for?” Damien demanded. “I’m not into the whole BDSM thing. I don’t like being tortured.”
Will smiled at the admonition right before he sunk himself balls-deep into Damien’s beckoning hole.
Oh God. It was amazing. To experience that tight heat clasping his cock made him light-headed from the pure pleasure. He stayed right where he was for a few seconds to simply revel in the complete rightness of it all. Then Damien whined and clamped his hole like a vise in obvious demand. It got Will moving, because it wasn’t all about what made him happy. He treated the human to a few hard, long thrusts and had intended to keep those up, but he came. Like an uncontrolled explosion, he filled Damien’s ass with pent-up cum. Well, filled the condom, really, except Will liked to picture it otherwise.
He did it once, twice, always thrusting, and was on his third orgasm when Damien jerked and cried out. Will had enough sense left to bury himself completely before reaching around to clasp Damien’s dick and milk it through the boy’s climax.
They stood there, panting and shuddering with the aftershocks. Will allowed himself to lower his head to place his mouth along the side of Damien’s neck. He kissed, even though he wanted to bite. He soothed his necessary disappointment by sucking the skin with his lips, knowing he’d leave a mark, just not the one he would prefer.
Damien spoke. “I knew it would be great. I’ve wanted you from the moment I first saw you.” He paused. “I hope that doesn’t freak you out.”
Will licked his way up the side of Damien’s neck and around the
shell of his ear. He would have loved to nip at the lobe, but the boy’s small gages were in the way. “Not in the least. Will it, as you say, freak you out, if I ask you to come to my room and spend the night with me?”
Damien chuckled. “Hell no. Fulfill all of my fantasies, why don’t you? Except, um, Annika?”
“Sleeps soundly through the night. She won’t come out of her room until morning. Not even her dog rouses her before then. And,” he added in order for his daughter to not became an issue, “our walls are very thick. She won’t hear us, so long as you don’t do any screaming.”
“Ha! That part might be hard. You’re amazing. You do know that?” Will didn’t know how to respond to that assertion. “I mean, do you ever get soft? It felt as if you came a few times and it still feels like I’ve got a club up my ass.”
“Am I hurting you?” Alarmed, Will tried to pull out. Damien made that hard by following and slamming back into his chest. Will had to hug the boy from behind to keep him steady.
“Hell no! Dude, you’re like a sex god. I can’t get enough of you. Maybe we should stay here for the night.”
Will chuckled and gently decoupled them, despite Damien’s mew of disappointment. “I think we’ve probably already violated some number of sanitation codes for kitchens. Let’s go where we’ll be more comfortable and have better privacy. I find,” he confessed with only a little embarrassment, “that I crave you again, too.”
“Then, what are we waiting for?”
* * * *
Will woke from his dreamless sleep to the feeling of silky wet warmth sliding up the length of his cock. He smiled before opening his eyes, knowing whose mouth was tending to him in such a delightful way. Having stumbled into Will’s room, they’d fucked again, more slowly and face-to-face, which Will had appreciated. They’d collapsed and fallen asleep with Will’s dick still embedded in Damien’s ass. At some point, Will had roused sufficiently to disengage and toss the condom into the wastebasket by his bedside. Thank God, he had it there because he lacked the strength to get up and go to the bathroom.
Smoke Dance Page 9